The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-09-23

oh. t'lese women are find hands at
breaking up a friendship between two
strong
"Soon after this little episode
went to my room, not to sleep. how.
ever, for | tossed restlessly upon my
bed all night, vowing as / did so to
give our arch coquette such II savage
scolding upon the morrow, ever at
the risk of increasing her displeasure,
as should startle and alarm her into
a less cruel and dangerous course.
What right had the girl to keep them
both along so evenly, for if she smiled
with unusual friendliness upon Harold
one day the very next day she would
have no n to ride, drive, or walk by
her side but poor Devine. l must say
this, Harold Charters seemed honest
ly panied and grieved at the break be.
tween himself and his friend and cous.
In Devine, and I thought that he con.
trolled his temper admirable upon
several occasions when Devine was al.
most insolent in showing his enmity.
"Well, the next morning after
this incident felt tragedy in II air.
The fire had long been smo. ring,
soon it would break out tiercely.
Devine looked SO haggard and unlike
himself that l was shocked and
alarmed, but he assumed a cheerful.
ness which his face belied, as fair Queen
Belle came to the breakfast-room
looking fresh as the morning itself. in
a dainty costume that became her
well, and invited both OF her admirers
to come and look at her beds OF au.
tumn flowers.
"'And why may l not go, too2' said
J to her, partly because l was anx-
loas to prevent any outbreak between
those two men, bothwhom were in no
mood to stand the least triAing, |
saw, and partly because l hoped to
find an easly opportunity for keeping
my last nights vow, to speak earnest.
~ again to isabel. AS we started
talking cheerful.y in the bright, pleas.
ant morning air, isabel, either in mere
caprice, or accidentally, ] can never
to this day be certain which it was,
dropped upon the terrace, the hand.
kerchief she carried in herhand. Both
OF the gentleman sprang forward to
pick 1T up and restore it TO her, and
both by some wretched fatality caught
it at the same instant. Neither wtauld
loosen his hold.
cit was q filmy, cobwebby little af-
fair. I remember saying to myself
c%ynically that it was as light and I'M.
substantial as it's owners affections.
"Devine held it by one delicate hem,
Harold by the other. Not a word
was said. l saw one strange, swift
look OF defiance, challenge, passionate
jealousy pass between the two men,
then suddenly the the little handker.
chief was rent in twain. each man
holding one-half of it in his hand.
Well, even Belle was for o little time
frightened out of her usual indiffer.
ence.
Nothing was said, and | tried to
turn the incident off with q laugh,
Belle Joined me, but although the two
men continued to walk leisurely along,
II upon each side OF the young lady,
and although they praised the flow,
ers and Harold gathered a bouquet
OF them. all as though nothing had
happened. l felt that there was Sc.
rious trouble ahead. / had seen the
fierce look that passed between them,
and it haunted me all day.
~ was called away from the hall
a little after noon, and did
not return until nearly midnight,
The old servant who admitted
me said that all the household had
retired for the night, and feeling very
weary, but intensely thankful to find
that so far no tragic occurrence had
taken place at the hall, full though
the old house was of all the elements
for tragedy.
81 slept soundly, and it was late
when entered the breakfast-room. ]
found that it contained only one oe.
cnpant, an elderly lady, an old
friend of Mrs. Ely's. She told me, in
answer to my questions, that all the
guests had breakfasted rather late
that morning with the exception oil
Harold Charters and young Devine,
who, iii company with two OF their
friends, had come down remarkably
early. Isabel was out for her morning
ramble. could not eat. Something
IN the good lady's information
troubled me Why were those four
young men out so very early on this
particular morning? And how came
it about-the coincidence OF De.
vines b~ralfastipg at about the
same time Us did Harold, for
Capt. Devine was usually late in the
morning; and then it all came to me
plainly. That look OF yesterday over
the torn handkerchief. 1t meant a
duel. Isaid nothing Of nv suspicion,
which, indeed, amounted to a convic.
ton, but as soon as possible started
out to find the rivals. All, well; hall
an hour later l found them in a little
green glade in the corner OF the park
most distant from the house; but
poor Devine's blue eyes would never
brighten again with love or triumph
or flash a challenge dehantly to rival
or foe; they were fast glazing in death,
When l appeared upon the scene the
surgeon rom the neighboring town
was kneeling by Devine'ssid attempt
ing to administer some kind OF restor.
alive, while Walter Delaney, one OF
the seconds, held the poor boys head
in his arms. AS for Harold Charters;
well, l am an old man, a physician,
and am familiar with most forms OF
human agony, yet shall never forget
the awful look ofgrief, horror, remorse
upon the stern, set counte.
nance OF Harold as he bent over his
old friend and comrade, dying
now, stricken down by his own hand.
Suddenly poor Devine frightened up
a little; he moved his hand towards
Harold's feebly, and whispered pain.
fully: "Good-by, old fellow; Harold
don't take it so hard; it had to be.
was all to blame. You will win her
now; God bless her. 1t was all for
fair Queen Isabel. Good. BY" His
head fell h~eaxil1sback, a shudder Of
the gracefuEfsHy yish figure, and dill
was over. Then, indeed Harold gave
way. He bowed his head over the
body OF his dead friend and his strong
frame shook in a very CONFUSION OF
grief.
"All we'll, well, it was a sad affair, and
SO useless; all for what, a girls fool,
ish whim. (But, then, Troy town
fell from q woman's whim, too. You
will find a woman's whim at the bot.
tom OF most tragedies and troubles. ,
1t seems that Devine had sent a
challenge to Harold a few hours
after the handkerchief scene il,
the garden, and the affair had been